HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!... I'M BACK.

Two years since my last post, two years since I went back to one of my hobbies: sewing.
It's the time I learned I was going to be a grand mother. So I started making baby items:  burp cloths, pacifier clips, wash cloths, laundry bag, nursing cover.



My daughter lives in Switzerland, I went there before she gave birth, and in October 2011 God blessed our family with a precious little girl who brings so much joy to everybody.

When I made the baby accessories everybody likes them, I started to make some for sale, family and friends bought them as gifts for baby shower. so I decided to open a shop on Etsy:
www.etsy.com/shop/laprovidenceboutique

I am happy to be back, I hope you'll be happy to have me back.

One Of Those Great Days....

Good Friend

Sharing good times with good friends is the greatest joy. This is the stuff that makes life worthwhile. Whether sharing a meal together or a good conversation, there is nothing more fulfilling then spending time with friends. We must be thankful for the friendships that come our way for not all are blessed with the skills to form deep relationships. Those of us that do have friends must never take for granted the gift bestowed upon us.

Good Friend By Family Friend Poems / CC BY 3.0

One month after our first  gathering for the year, I want to give you a glimpse at how my husband and I,  we took great pleasure hosting a dinner party  to celebrate the new year with our dear friends.

Let's see how it was on January 8th at my house. - I have a THING for beautiful table settings, I think that beside being a pleasure for the eyes, it's a way to delight our guests, a way of showing them how much we value them. The table setting is truly as important as the food itself.
                                   

The table is set with a beautiful  embroidered tablecloth and assorted napkins,

place cards, a floral arrangement that I made(one of my many talents),

candles, wine glasses that can be use for red wine, white wine or water,

my husband's idea to have more space on the table.

 My husband has set the mood with candles and special music. Everybody was in a relaxed state, you could feel a good energy flowing, I'm highly sensitive to energy, I can pick it up and also be drained by it, that's why I avoid being at some places, sometimes.

We talked about anything and everything, being able to speak without being afraid that, what we're saying is going to be twist around, PRICELESS!

It was one of those days that in your heart you know you're going to have a good time.  

 WE HAD A GREAT TIME!

A view of the coffee table set for the appetizers, and the dinner table.

On the menu was:  Rice and Beans,  Braised Turkey wings

Braised  Beef Pot Roast, Blanched Fresh Green Bean, Roasted Potatoes

Cabernet Sauvignon, Tiramisu and Rhum Raisins Ice Cream

Simple Tiramisu

I made a Tiramisu for dessert, it was SIMPLY DELICIOUS, I found a recipe different from my daughter's recipe

(Recipe at the end of this page)

                                                                                                               

Simple Tiramisu Recipe

16  ladyfingers split

12 ounces whipped topping

3 ounces reduced fat cream cheese(I use 6oz)

1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (I use more)

1/2 cup nonfat sourcream  (I use more)

2/3 cup cup strong coffee (I use 1 cup)

1/3 cup plus 1/2 cup maple syrup

1-  combine coffee and 1/3 cup maple syrup; blend well.

Spoon over ladyfingers

2- Line bottom and sides of an 8x8inch dish with ladyfingers 

3- Combine cream cheese, sour cream and 1/2 cup of maple

syrup  in a bowl. ( you can use less like I did if you want) 

Beat until smooth. Fold in whipped topping.

4- Spoon cream cheese mixture over ladyfingers.

Cover with plastic wrap.

Refrigerate for about 15 minutes

Remove plastic; sift cocoa over top just before serving.

I made mine early in the day, it stayed hours in the fridge. You can make it the day before, it's up to you.

My husband and I,  we decided with our friends to form a dinner club, we are three couples, each one will host a dinner or brunch once a month.  The next dinner is this Saturday Feb.12.  -I'll keep you posted.

Until then, Eat Healthy, Think Positively and  Keep The Word of The Lord Close to Your Heart.

This is what the LORD says: "Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my

righteousness will soon be revealed.- Isaiah 56:1

Wishing You A Happy And Healthy New Year 2011!!!

As we were still enjoying our Homecation, my husband promised me a breakfast  a la Bobby Flay.

He decided to make it on the 2nd day of the New Year. - It was a Sunday,  I got up before him, had my tea, enjoyed the silence of the morning for a while, and went back to our room to wake him up and remind him that he was Bobby Flay for the morning.

Here is what he made: 

Apple Pie Oatmeal with Brulee Crust

&

Ham, Egg and Cheese Sandwich on English Muffin

Apple & Cranberries Mixture

                                                   English Muffin Sandwich in process

It was delicious, This meal kept us full all day thus we did not have the need for a lunch, we had a late light  dinner and a good movie.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM MY HOME TO YOURS!

In This New Year

May We Realize Our Fondest Dreams

And Take Time To Recognize And Enjoy

Each And Every Blessings

Frugal Vacation? Homecation? Staycation? You Choose

While our children are vacationing in Switzerland for the holidays, my husband and I, have our own vacation at home, it's call HOMECATION: word from the Urban dictionary. On Christmas Eve, after going out for some window shopping and before the Midnight Mass, we had dinner:

Flat bread pizza, Pinot noir,

Apple pie and Pistachio/Cashew Ice cream.

After mass, we had Egg Nog (store bought), I have a recipe for egg nog but I didn't feel like making it.

 

Christmas day was Pajama day for me. I wake up late and I indulged myself with this wonderful  ginger/mint nourishing body polish that my daughter Stephanie bought for me some months ago.It's a great product, everytime I use it I feel good, and it makes the skin smooth.

Thereafter, I had my tea, I am an avid tea drinker, I enjoy tea for many reasons: tea contains antioxydants that protect our body from various kind of diseases, tea can boost our immune system and has cancer-fighting effects. Compared to coffee, tea has less caffeine. I drink various flavors of tea.---The aroma of a hot cup of tea and a good book, like this one that I promised myself to finish before the end of the year, it's heaven!

Bel Ami by Guy de Maupassant ( I bought it at http://www.frenchbooksonline.com/)

The day after Christmas: Blizzard alert, it's started snowing at 10:00 am. I did not feel like cooking but since we've been eating leftovers, I decided to make this quick meal:

Buttery Potato Fans. Flounder Filet and Mushrooms on a bed of  Steamed Spinach. It was delish!

To make the Buttery Potato Fans,   1- preheat oven to 450 F. Lightly grease a baking sheet. Cut potatoes into 1/4inch slices but do not cut all the way through. 2- Place potatoes on prepared baking sheet. Spread slices slight apart. 3- Mix butter and oil in a small bowl: lightly brush over potato skins and between slices with a small pastry brush. Sprinkle with salt. 4- Bake for 40 minutes or until potatoes are tender and edges are brown. Spread with sour cream or serve on the side. If you want to save time like I did,  prepare potatoes as recipe directs through step 3, but microwave the potatoes for about 5 or 8 minutes depending on the  sizes of the potatoes, then reduce baking time to 15 minutes in step 4.

Dec 27th The front door of our apt blocked by the snow

I took this pic from my living room's window

Dec 28th when I wake up and look outside from my bedroom's window, I couldn't resist, I had to take a pic of this beautiful view.

A BIENTOT!

.

Welcome to My Home For Christmas..... and Happy Holidays!

Everyone who follows my blog knows decorating is one of my hobbies.Today I will not say much, I'll just let you enjoy my Christmas decorations

The Entry door, (wreath and wreath holder are from Home Goods)

 

                                        My husband and I, we made this centerpiece

The brown bases of my lamps didn't match my silver decor so I use aluminium foil and Voila (frugal solution)

This is my kitchen window, I use a table centerpiece as window treatment.

This is the bathroom door, I made the door knob decoration for every door in my home, I use pinecones, red ribbons and a glue gun.

                                                        Partial view of the bathroom-

Simple decoration for the bathroom, just a clear vase filled with christmas ornaments the color of the tiles and the cabinet,

                                                    

Santa needs a base

                  I made this base with a box wrapped with gift paper, it's more like it!

                            I bought this flower basket at my favorite store: HOME GOODS

                                                       decoration in progress

                                           All my snowmen are from Home Goods

         The poinsettias are on a soft white tulle curtain ( my creative mind was on frugal mode)

                                                                                                                                         

                               

                     This is an appetizers table for a small Christmas gathering on December 18th.

                                            

                                                                                                

       

                             Strawberries Trifle made by my daughter Caroline( Caroline's Pantry) for the occasion.

                                            

Tiramisu also made by Caroline

May The Light Of The World Shine In Our Hearts

This Christmas And Always!

For There Is Born To You

This Day In The City Of David

A Savior, Who Is Christ Our Lord

Luke 2 : 11

   FROM MY HOME TO YOUR HOME  MERRY CHRISTMAS!